Flying And Alcohol Don't Mix

(Alcohol Dehydrates the body)

By David J. Stewart

       Alcohol is properly termed "booze" for several reasons, amongst which is the ever-increasing death toll from alcohol related mishaps. Only God knows the evils brought upon society because of BOOZE! But there are other ills associated with alcohol besides moral issues... your health. Few people realize that flying on an airplane combined with drinking alcohol is hazardous to your health. 

According to Dr. Steve Frushour, Aero-Medical Officer of the International Bird Dog Association...

Alcohol and flying just don't mix. I am going to give you some of the facts about the consumption of alcohol and each one of us always needs to constantly re-evaluate our condition and position of the subject. "Birddoggers" and fighter pilots have been know to consume alcohol in the spirit of "party tonight, because tomorrow I may go down in flames." (I'm not sure that bomber pilots do these things, since I have never run around with that crowd.)

I will try to point out some of the reasons why we (Birddoggers), as we get older (and wiser), have to change our approach to the issue of ALCOHOL. If a pilot has one shot of whiskey, it takes about 60 minutes for his/her blood alcohol level to reach its peak.

There are many variables in the equation. The pilot's size and general metabolic state help to determine the exact peak alcohol level. Just because someone drinks frequently and doesn't show the outside effects doesn't mean that his/her alcohol level is low. One shot in a "98 pound weakling" will probably have a different effect than the same amount in a "300 pound bruiser." How much and how do we metabolize (get rid of) the alcohol? Alcohol is metabolized in the liver, i.e. if you have a bad liver it takes longer to metabolize. You metabolize approximately 10-15 mg % per hour or 1 oz of pure alcohol in three hours. You say, "What is 10 - 15 mg %?" In most states legally drunk is 0.10 to 0.20 % (100 - 200 mg %). The point is... you don't have to drink very much to be legally drunk. Most of us will be legally drunk after three beers (It won't take that many for some.) The FAA states that there has to be at least 8 hours time between your last drink and acting as a crew member.

As this paragraph shows (and you can check the math), you could easily still be legally drunk after 8 hours. Some items of interest and conversation at the bar: 1 oz = 30 ml 1 jigger = 45 ml % (as noted above) = volume % or ml per 100 ml 1 can of beer = 12 oz = 360 ml 3.2 % = 11.5 ml of alcohol 6.0 % = 26.6 ml of alcohol Wine (12 %) 1 bottle = 4/5 qt = 25 oz = 750 ml = 90 ml of alcohol 1 glass = 3 - 4 oz = 90 - 120 ml = 10.8 - 14.4 ml of alcohol Hard Drinks Gimlet = 1 1/4 jigger gin (@45 %) = 25.2 ml of alcohol Sour = 1 1/4 jigger of whiskey (@45%) = 25.2 ml of alcohol Daiquiri = 1 1/2 jigger of rum (@40%) = 26.8 ml of alcohol Collins = 2 jiggers of gin (@45%) = 40.0 ml of alcohol Martini = 1/4 jigger of vermoth (@19%) = 2.1 ml of alcohol 1 1/2 jigger of gin (@45%) = 30.2ml of alcohol 32.3 ml of alcohol Let's do some math: To put it in "pilot terms"...(this is an approximate and every person is different) In eight hours, a pilot (or ground person) could clear 8 beers or 4 - 1 oz "highballs" or 3 "double highballs" or 2 dry martini's. This is only an approximate and will be different of each person.

The amount that you drink, the rate that you metabolize and the person's size (a larger person will have a smaller % alcohol for the same amount of drinks) all go together in this equation. These are all things that we know but nobody likes to talk about it. The big issue is to always fly safe. If you had a big party the night before a flight and you consumed alcohol (while telling Birddog stories), don't fly until you are safe. The (magical) eight hours may be past, but you still aren't feeling your best (i.e. hangover)...don't fly! We all know that alcohol impairs your behavior, judgment, attention and control. Have a good time, be responsible and fly safe.

SOURCE: http://www.ibdaweb.com/surgeon_pages/alcohol_and_flying.htm

According to Diana Fairechild, who flew over 10 million miles as an international chief purser for Pan Am, in an article titled DEHYDRATING AIRPLANE AIR, she states...

"In-flight air is drier than any of the world's deserts. Relative humidity is 20-25% in the Sahara or Arabian deserts, while optimum comfort is around 50% humidity.

In-flight cabin humidities gradually fall on long-distance, high-altitude flights in many cases approaching 1%.

Basically, there's no way to avoid the fact that your body will become dehydrated to some degree as a result of flying long distances in near-zero humidity in commercial jet cabins. So we need to be mindful of our water intake en route, and also remember to drink plenty of pure water for several days after landing.

In-flight dehydration is one of the most serious hazards long-distance flyers face."

SOURCE: "Dry cabin air causes dehydration." - Dana Fairechild (www.flyana.com)

Alcohol ought not be served on airplanes. It certainly doesn't make good sense to serve a mind-altering beverage in an enclosed environment, where an alcohol-impaired passenger may wreak havoc. In addition, the airlines have no way of determining how many alcoholic drinks a passenger may have drank before entering the plane. The best thing to do is avoid alcohol completely, on or off the plane. 

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Teens Drink One-Fifth of U.S. Alcohol!

The above picture speaks 1,000 words. The beer industry hypocritically tells teens not to drink alcohol until they are 21, while those same companies saturate American culture with booze, booze, booze! Consequently, underaged drinking is an epidemic problem in America!

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“I've stood for more sneers and scoffs and insults and had my life threatened from one end of the land to the other by this God-forsaken gang of thugs and cutthroats because I have come out uncompromisingly against them.” —Billy Sunday

Jacqueline Saburido (pictured above)

Teens Drink One-Fifth of U.S. Alcohol!

The above picture speaks 1,000 words. The beer industry hypocritically tells teens not to drink alcohol until they are 21, while those same companies saturate American culture with booze, booze, booze! Consequently, underaged drinking is an epidemic problem in America!

Scriptures Condemning Drinking Strong Drink...

Judges 13:4, “Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing.”

1st Samuel 1:15, “And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.”

Proverb:20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

Proverb 31:4, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink.”

Isaiah 5:22, “Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.”

Isaiah 24:9, “They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.”

Isaiah 28:7, “But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.”

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." —Proverb 20:1

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Only one life 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.

Ye Must Be Born Again!

God is Against Alcohol, Period!

Jacqueline Saburido (pictured above)

“I tell you that the curse of God Almighty is on the saloon.”
—Billy Sunday

Billy Sunday (1862-1935)

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." ~Proverb 20:1

Watch Billy Sunday preach!

The Occult Roots of AA (Alcoholic's Anonymous)

Here's a Christian alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous...

Founded in 1948, Alcoholics Victorious support groups offer a safe environment where recovering people who recognize Jesus Christ as their "Higher Power" gather together and share their experience, strength and hope. AV meetings use both the 12 Steps and the Alcoholics Victorious Creed. 

There is Hope!

Jacqueline Saburido
(pictured above)

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” —Proverb 20:1

Alcohol tastes and feels good, but is rotten to the core!

G.A.D.D.
GOD AGAINST DRUNK DRIVERS!

“Whiskey and beer are all right in their place, but their place is in hell.” —Billy Sunday

“The man who votes for the saloon is pulling on the same rope with the devil, whether he knows it or not.” —Billy Sunday

Ye Must Be Born Again!